Monday, July 30, 2012

Euphoric

I’ve signed the contract, so now I can announce the very,
very exciting news!

I’ve had a short story accepted for a Mercedes Lackey-edited anthology of
stories based in her awesome Elemental Masters universe!

::runs around in small circles, hands flapping::

I’ve been reading Misty’s work since…well, let’s just say
math would be involved in figuring it out. A long time. And I love the Elemental Masters series.
It’s mostly set in Britain (although our stories didn’t have to be), pre-WWII,
and the premise is that there are people who have elemental magic, the ability
to work magic based on the four elements and to interact with the attendant
elemental creatures (water magicians commune with sylphs and naiads, etc.).
Additionally, each book is based loosely on a fairy tale or legend.

I set my story in and around Castle Coch
in south Wales, a place I’ve been to several times. It’s truly a fairy
tale/fantasy castle, with conical-roofed towers and incredible decorations.
Unsurprisingly, my underlying fairy tale is Rapunzel. (See also below.)

I love writing romance and erotica (obviously), but fantasy
was my first love, and any opportunity I get to write fantasy makes me happy.
To be a part of this project makes me insanely
joyous.

I have to thank a few people for helping me on this journey:

Ken, for putting up with me every time I thought I couldn’t
do it, thought the idea was stupid. I haven’t had much faith in my writing
ability lately, and he’s done nothing but prop me up and say all the right
things I needed to hear.

Kris & Dean and the Oregon Writers Network,
for not only holding so many workshops that have helped me grow as a writer,
but for making it possible for me to be in the right place at the right time
for this opportunity.

Lee Rebennack, for immediately saying “Rapunzel” when I
asked those in our hotel room at Phoenix Comicon what their favorite fairy tale
was. That smashed into the idea of using Castle Coch and my brain did that
wonderful writerly “OoooOOOoooh!”
that happens when the right ideas come together.

I’m probably overreacting to this—I mean, hell, I’ve sold
more than a hundred short stories—but given how hard it’s been to even finish a short story lately, much less
how I’ve questioned whether I should be even doing this, I’m going to go with
the euphoria.

8 comments:

So that was the sound of celebration I heard all the way on the other side of the country> Wow! *toasts you with virtual champagne* You're not over-reacting at all. This isn't just another short story acceptance. It's an acceptance by an author you respect and admire, to an super-cool anthology, and it's come at a time when you needed a boost. So insane joy is a perfect response. Just wish I could be there to crack the champagne with you.

About Me

DAYLE A. DERMATIS has been called “one of the best writers working today” by USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith. Under various pseudonyms (and sometimes with coauthors), she’s sold several novels and more than 100 short stories in multiple genres. She lives and works in California within scent of the ocean, and in her spare time follows Styx around the country and travels the world, all of which inspires her writing. She loves music, cats, Wales, TV, magic, laughter, and defying expectations. To find out where she is today, check out www.DayleDermatis.com.